[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H3106-H3107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    TRIBUTE TO LTC MARY LOU SMULLEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, today I want to congratulate LTC Mary 
Lou Smullen who will retire from the U.S. Army on May 1, 1995, after a 
distinguished 20-year career of service to our Nation. I am 
particularly pleased to note that a significant portion of that service 
relates directly to the Congress.
  Lieutenant Colonel Smullen graduated from Ohio University in Athens, 
OH, after majoring in radio and television broadcasting. In April of 
1975, following a short foray into the business sector, she sought and 
accepted a direct appointment as a second lieutenant in the Women's 
Army Corps.
  During her first assignment, then-lieutenant Smullen immediately 
established a reputation for excellence, creativity, and mission 
accomplishment. In a series of high profile positions at the U.S. Army 
Signal School and Center at 
[[Page H3107]] Fort Gordon, GA, involving public affairs and protocol 
she excelled and began polishing skills that would serve her 
exceptionally well in future assignments. Perhaps the highlight of her 
tour at Fort Gordon was a weekly television show titled ``On the Move'' 
that she produced, wrote, and appeared in, that covered stories of 
local interest. This well-received show was eventually picked up and 
broadcast as a public service on one of the local commercial television 
stations.
  Our very best officers actively seek duty with soldiers and Mary Lou 
Smullen is no exception. In the early 1980's, the U.S. Army in Europe 
was one of the most challenging places to serve with soldiers. Tough, 
realistic training and competent, confident leaders maintained the 
warrior's edge as America's Army stood ready to defend Western Europe 
from the Warsaw Pact.
  Effective personnel administration is one of the many important, yet 
unheralded tasks, that contribute to maintaining trained and ready 
forces in the field. We want to be sure that utmost care is taken of 
America's sons and daughters. We want to be sure our soldiers are 
properly assigned, promoted, schooled, rewarded, and disciplined. And 
that is exactly what then-Captain Smullen did as Chief of Officer 
Records for the Fifth U.S. Corps and later as Commander of the 64th 
Adjutant General Replacement Detachment, and Chief of the Enlisted 
Assignment Section for the Fifth Corps. Well over 21,000 soldiers in 
over 106 units directly benefited from LTC Smullen's exceptional 
efforts. She went on to serve with distinction as the Assistant 
Secretary for the General Staff for Protocol for the Fifth Corps and 
found the time somehow, to earn a master's degree in international 
relations from Troy State University at its overseas campus.
  LTC Smullen's educational background, experience, and demonstrated 
performance resulted in her next assignment as Assistant Public Affairs 
Officer for the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee. Once again she set 
herself apart from her peers by exhibiting exceptional skill, 
intelligence, and innovation. The information briefings, historical, 
and art programs she deftly developed established a standard that is 
still looked to today.
  Each service assigns Congressional liaison officers to offices on the 
Hill that perform a particularly important function keeping Congress 
adequately apprised of myriad programs so we can make informed 
decisions regarding defense authorizations and appropriations. Few 
positions within the services have such direct impact on the services' 
programs as these liaison positions. Accordingly, the services strive 
mightily to assign only their best officers to liaison positions on 
Capitol Hill. LTC Smullen was the Army's first female officer assigned 
to such as liaison position on Capitol Hill. This action testifies to 
the degree of trust and confidence senior Army leadership placed in 
this superb officer. She did such a fine job for the Army that the 
Office of the Secretary of Defense sought her transfer and she went on 
to provide liaison between the Secretary of Defense and Congress in 
matters relating to all weapons systems procurements, command control 
and communications issues, and chemical matters.
  Few of our serving military officers ever get the opportunity to work 
on Capitol Hill as bona fide members of the Congressional staff. 
Perhaps the ultimate indicator of LTC Smullen's special talents was her 
selection and assignment as a special assistant to the Staff Director 
on the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress. This historic 
effort, pursued only twice before in the history of our Republic, was 
supported by an extremely small Staff. LTC Mary Lou Smullen played a 
key role in the joint committee's activities. She coordinated research 
and background of legislative-executive relations, chose the best 
witnesses, analyzed the correct solutions for the joint committee to 
recommend, oversaw preparation of all outgoing constituent 
correspondence signed by members, and prepared all correspondence for 
the National Archives. All these tasks were accomplished in an 
exemplary fashion, and many of the committee's recommendations are 
under consideration by the current Congress for implementation.
  Since completing work with the joint committee, LTC Smullen has been 
serving as a special assistant to the Army's Chief of Legislative 
Liaison and has continued to excel in a position with many and varied 
challenges. Excellence continues as her hallmark.
  The role of women in our Armed Forces has been a topic of much 
discussion over the past several years. Throughout our history women 
have served America's Army in many substantive and diverse roles: Mary 
Ludwig McCauley, alias Molly Pitcher, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Mary 
Hallaren, and Mary E. Clarke have inspired generations of women to seek 
an opportunity to serve our Nation. Like them, Mary Lou Smullen heard 
the call. In her own way, LTC Smullen has played an active part in 
effecting important changes within America's Army. These changes have 
not occurred quickly. However, they have rooted deeply within the 
institution itself. Often have I heard the Army claim that senior 
leaders cannot be hired off the street. They must be nurtured and grown 
within the institution. The very fact that we have senior Army officers 
like LTC Smullen actively engaged in sensitive, important, and 
demanding positions is ample testament that the Army has indeed kept 
pace with the cultural changes that have occurred in the rest of 
American society. The Women's Army Corps was eliminated shortly after 
LTC Smullen graduated from its basic course. She has been in the 
vanguard of change that has permeated America's Army, setting an 
example, breaking down long-established barriers, and disproving widely 
held stereotypes.
  On a personal note, I would point out that LTC Smullen was one of the 
escort officers for a Veterans' Affairs Committee trip several years 
ago to Corregidor and talks with Filipino officials regarding the 
restoration of the memorial to U.S. troops on the island. She proved to 
be an excellent escort officer and contributed greatly to the success 
of the trip.
  Mary Lou Smullen is a consummate professional. She has personified 
those traits of professionalism, integrity, and competence that our 
Nation has come to expect from its Army officers. When she was needed, 
she was there. She has served our country well and our heartfelt 
appreciation and best wishes go with LTC Smullen as she prepares for 
the future.


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